By Allan Lengelticklethewire.com
Being the first is always worth noting.
And that’s what Charles L. Gittens was — the first black Secret Service agent. He became an agent in 1956 and retired in 1979, the Associated Press reported.
AP reported reported that Gittens died on July 27 in Maryland. He was 82.
According to an obituary in The Herald-Sun of Durham, N.C., Gittens was first assigned to the Charlotte, N.C., office and he worked in New York City office investigating counterfeiting and bank fraud.
He was fluent in Spanish and worked in the San Juan, Puerto Rico bureau and the D.C. office in 1969.
AP reported that after retiring in 1979, he worked for the Justice Department investigating war criminals.
AP reported that Danny Spriggs, vice president of global security for The Associated Press who had been a Secret Service agent, called Gittens “just an outstanding guy.”
“He went out of his way to mentor and give counsel and advice to young African-Americans who were coming up, especially those like myself who were coming up through the ranks.”
“The guy was always physically fit. He looked like he came out of the gym. His whole persona was one of professionalism: no nonsense guy.”
